Marking device



Jan. 3, 1956 J, A, RAMSEY, 5R 2,728,932

MARKING DEVICE:

Filed June 50, 1.951

INVENTOR. Jul/'an A. Hamsey,$r.

H/S ATTORNEYS MARKING DEVICE Julian A. Ramsey, Sr., Washington County, Pa.

Application June 30, 1951, Serial No. 234,537

claims. (ci. its- 227) This invention relates to a new and improved form of marking device and particularly, to a simple and practical form of device which may be worn on the foreinger or thumb of the user.

It is recognized that there are various types of marking devices in the art, but I have found that such devices have not been practical for general usage. I have determined that a device for this purpose should be capable of being carried in the pocket of the user without damage to the clothing; it should be of a simple and replaceable type that will always be available for immediate usage; its marking point or spot should be protected from deterioration and rub-off when the device is not in use; it should eliminate the need for an ink feed; and it should bel capable of easy and quick adaptation to utilize ink pads and the like of different colors.

It has thus been an object of my invention to provide a new and improved form of marking device that will meet the above and other requirements;

Another object has been to provide a simple and practical form of marking device that can be worn on the end of a iinger of the user, so that his hands can be relatively free for other work;

These and many other objects of my invention will appear from the following description of the illustrated embodiment thereof.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side view in elevation illustrating how a device of my invention may be employed;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side view in elevation of the device of Figure l with end closure caps in position;

Figure 3 is a vertical section in elevation through the device of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an exploded view showing parts of the device of my invention in a separated relationship;

Figure 5 is a view on the scale of Figure 3, showing a marking unit with a closure therefore and which are employed with the device of Figure 3.

Referring to Figure 1, I have shown an article 9 being spotted or marked by a device 12 of my invention that is frictionally held in position on an index finger 11 of the hand of an operator. This illustrates that the ldevice 12 can be easily operated by one finger of the hand (index linger shown), its relative size, and how it can be guided by the thumb during a stamping or marking operation. It leaves the hand 10 and the other iingers comparatively free and the operator may do other work while the device States atentO M 12 is retained in position on the iinger 11 between marking operations. A finger of the left hand of a righthanded operator may be used to position the device.

Referring to Figures 2, 3 and 4, the device 12 consists of a somewhat cylindrical-like holder body part 13, a marking part 1S, and closure cap parts 21 and 22. One end portion or half of the body part 13 is slightly conical in shape and has a cone-shaped, open end bore 14 to receive the finger 11 of the operator and frictionally retain its position thereon. It will be noted that the bore 14 is closed off by a rounded-off side of a central abut- 2,728,932 yPatented Jan. 3, 1956 ment wall 15. The open end of the bore 14 may be closed by a cap element 22 when the device is not in use. Thumb tacks 23, tabs, or gum discs, etc., may be carried in the compartment defined by the bore 14 when the device is not in use.

The other half or end portion of the body part 13 is of cylindrical shape and has a cylindrical bore 17 therein that is open to its opposite end. An inner end of this bore is also closed 0H by the central abutment wall 15 which has a small hole 16 therethrough to by-pass a knock-out wire, pin or match stick that may be employed to facilitate the removal of a worn out marking part I8. The bore 17 is adapted to slidably-removably receive the spotting or marking part 18 thereon. An outwardlyprojecting annular flange 13a is provided on the body part 13 about its outer, end periphery (adjacent the bore 17) to slidably-frictionally receive a cup-shaped closure cap 21.

The marking part 18 has a cup or hat-shaped retaining portion 19 within which an ink pad or marking portion 20 of saturated felt or other suitable marking material is adapted to Lbe positioned. A piece of chalk or crayon may be inserted in place of the pad 20 when needed. The retaining cup 19 has an outwardly bent-up and doubled-over, iiexible ring flange portion 19a which when the'part 18 is pushed within the bore 17, is adapted to abut against a front ledge of the ange 13a.

The closure cap 21 has an enlarged, outer cylindrical bore portion 21b which is adapted to slidably-frictionally engage the ange 13a and somewhat loosely by-pass the exible, annular end iiange 19a. An inner, smaller bore 21a, adjacent its end or bottom portion, is adapted to slidably-frictionally receive the flange 19a (see Figure 5) when the marking part 18 is carried separately. The bores 21a and 2lb provide or define an abutment portion within the cap 21. As shown in Figure 3, the flexible flange 19a is of slightly larger diameter than the bore 21a, so that it will normally rest against the abutment portion and its marking pad will be in a spaced relationship with the bottom wall portion of the cap 21. However, when as shown in Figure 5, the markingpart is to be carried separately, the bore 21a may be forced over the flange 19a (flexing it inwardly) to hold the cap tightly in position over the cup-shaped holder 19. That is, I contemplate providing a series of marking parts 13 of diiferent colors such as red, white, blue, green, yellow, etc. and then to insert them into the bore 17 as they are needed for particular applications or to replace worn out or eX- hausted marking parts 1S. n

As shown in Figure 3, the peripheral rim or ring ange 19a forms a flexible ring flange of inverted U-shape about the open end of the marking cup 19 and comprises inner and outer, spaced-apart and transversely-outwardly eX- tending wall or leg portions a and c connected together by a bent-over shoulder or base and spacer portion b. This provides a iieXible construction such that the flange 19a (whose base portion b is shown of only slightly larger diameter than the inner bore portion 21a of the cap 21 and thus, than the diameter of the internal abutment shoulder d that is defined by its inner bore portion 21a and the outer bore portion 2lb) may be exed inwardly and slide past the shoulder d to securely mount the marking unit 18 within the cap 21, so that the marking unit may be removed from the bore 17 of the holder body 13 within the closure cap 21 of cup shape. The ange 19a also provides an internal locking groove or valley to secure the marking portion or material 20 in place within the cup 19. It will be noted from Figure 5 of the drawings that the internal abutment shoulder d of the cap 21, when forced over the base portion b of the ring flange 19a, iiexes it radially-inwardly and causes it to move intosliding abutment with the inner bore portion 21a of the cap. As a result, the marking unit 18 may be removed from the holder body '13 vwithout employing a push-out in the hole 16.

A second cap ,22 -frictionally ts over the-other extending end portion of the body member 13 to close ofi the bore '14`and retain any suitable means suchas 23 therein when the device 12 is being carried inthe pocket of the user.

I have found this device handy in marking drawings and blue prints with one color to indicate the job -to which they pertain. I have also found it very useful in connection with wiring operations, where aplurality of wires are to be threaded through a conduit, insulator, or cable. Thatis,the device can be used to stamp opposite Vends of each wire with one 4color before the wires lare threaded through the conduit, so that vproper connections can be made at a switch box, Vfor example, without guessing as to which lead each wire represents.

Although a number of complete units 12 such as-shown inFigure 2 maybe made available, I prefer, in ordinary usage, to provide one holder body 13 and a plurality of diterent colored spotting `parts or units 18, such as shown in Figure 5, which can be readily replaced within the body 13. The hole 1-6 facilitates the-removal of the marking `.part 18, since a stii wire'or match stick can be inserted to push the part out ofthe bore 17.

As shown in Figure l, the device of my invention can be worn by the user with a minimum interference with other operations of his hands, such as threading wire through a conduit, and will stay in 'position on his finger or thumb by reason of the thimble-like shape of the bore 14. The double use of the cap 21 enables safe carrying of the spotting unit parts 18 of Figure 5 as well as of a complete unit 12 of Figure 3. The tight fitting relationship of the cap 21 keeps dirt and air away from the spotting end of the marking felt or insert 20, except when it is 1n use.

It will be noted from Figure l taken in view of Figure 4 that the size and length of my device and particularly, of the outwardly-diverging cone-shaped bore 14, is such that the device fits over and encloses the tip end portion of a first phalanx of a finger of a user and freely permits the user to bend his first knuckle which connects the first phalanx with the second phalanx of his finger. It also permits the user to easily steady the device with his thumb, as shown in Figure 1. It will also appear that the centrally-located, separating, or abutment wall 15 is rounded-out in a concave manner to comfortably receive the tip end of the first .phalanx of the finger of the user and enable the user to exert a full down Apressure on the I unit during a marking operation. As shown in Figure 4, a longitudinal or axial section through the holder body 13 presents a double U-shape with its cone-shaped bore 14 and cylindrical bore 17. As shown particularly in Figure 3, the radially-outwardly projecting abutment or fiange portion 19a about the cup 19 of the marking part which is located adjacent its open end, limits the slidingfrictional insertion of the cup 18 within the bore 17 by reason of its abutment with the end wall of the bore 17 as surmounted or reinforced by the flange 13a.

What I claim is:

l. An improved marking device of the character shown and described which comprises, a holding body part of substantially cylindrical shape and limited longitudinal extent such that it may be readily carried in the pocket of a purse or of clothing being worn, a central abutment wall extending across said body .part internally thereof; a pair of bore walls extending longitudinally along said body part in opposite directions from said abutment wall and being open to opposite ends of said body part, one of said bore walls defining a thimble-like finger-tip-receiving compartment portion with said abutment wall, the other of said bore `walls `defining .a marking-uniticarrying and supporting compartment portion with said abutment wall Yand Ahaving an outer rim end portion; a

self-contained marking unit having a retaining cup portion and an e'ndwise-projecting marking portion mounted within said cup portion to project outwardly therefrom; a iiexible peripheral ring ange about said cup portion at its open end said ring flange being U-Shaped in transverse cross-section and having a pair of transversely-extending inner and outer leg portions and a connecting base portion; said cup portion being slidable in abutment with and internally along said other bore wall until the inner leg portion of said exible ring flange abuts the outer rim end portion of said other bore wall to flexibly-removably mount said marking unit within the supporting compartment portion of said holding body; a closure cap of cupshape having an inner bore portion of smaller diameter and an outer open-end bore portion of larger diameter defining an intermediate internal abutment shoulder therein, said outer bore portion being slidable in abutment with and over and along the outer rim end portion of said other Vbore wall until said internal abutment shoulder abuts said iiexible ring ange of said marking unit; the base portion of said flexible ring flange having only a slightly larger diameter than said inner bore vportion of said closure cap to be iiexed radially-inwardly by and slide along said abutment shoulder into sliding engagement with said inner bore portion of said closure cap when its said abutment shoulder is forced thereover.

2. An improved marking device of the character described which comprises, a holding body part of substantially cylindrical shape and limited longitudinal extent such that it may readily be carried in the pocket of a purse or clothing being worn, a central abutment wall extending transversely across said body part internally thereof; a pair of bore walls extending longitudinally along said body part .in opposite directions from said abutment ywall and being open to opposite ends of said body part, one of said bore walls deiining a thimble-like finger-tip-receiving compartment portion with said abutment wall, the other of said bore walls defining a marking-unit-carrying and supporting compartment portion with said abutment wall and having an outer rim end portion `about its open end; a self-contained marking unit having a retaining cup portion and an endwise-projecting marking portion mounted within said cup portion to project longitudinally-outwardly therefrom; a peripheral ring iange about vsaid cup portion at its open end; said cup portion being slidable in abutment with and internally along said other bore wall until said ring an'ge abuts the outer rim end lportion of said other bore wall to-removaly mount said marking unit within the supporting compartment portion of said holding body; said abutment wall yhaving a central passageway therethrough connecting the finger compartment portion to the supporting 'compartment portion to pass a knock-out element therethrough from the iinger compartment for pushing said marking unit out of its mounted position within the supporting compartment portion; a closure cap of cup-shape having an inner bore portion of smaller diameter and an outer open-end b'ore portion of larger diameter deining an intermediate internal abutment shoulder therein, said outer bore 'portion being slidable in abutment with and over and along the outer rim end portion of said other bore wall until said internal abutment shoulder abuts said ring flange of said closure cap.

3. A marking device as delined in claim 2 wherein, said peripheral ring flange is of fiexible construction and has a pair of radially-outwardly-projecting and spacedapart wall portions connected together by a bent-over outer shoulder portion, said spaced-apart wall portions defining an internal locking groove to securely position said marking poition within said retaining cup portion, and said ring flange being iiexed inwardly by the internal abutment shoulder of said cap and being slidable along the inner bore thereof to securely position .said cap on said retainer cup and over said marking portion.

4. An improved marking device of the character described which comprises, a holding body part of substantially cylindrical shape and limited longitudinal extent such that it may readily be carried in the pocket of a purse or clothing being worn, a central abutment wall extending transversely across said body part internally thereof; a pair of bore walls extending longitudinally along said body part in opposite directions from said abutment Wall and being open to opposite ends of said body part, one of said bore walls defining a thimble-like finger-tip-receiving compartment portion with said abutment wall, the other of said bore walls defining a marking-unit-carrying and supporting compartment portion with said abutment wall and having an outer rim end portion about its open end; a self-contained marking unit having a retaining cup portion and an endwise-projecting marking portion mounted Within said cup portion to project longitudinally-outwardly therefrom; a peripheral ring ange about said cup portion at its open end; said cup portion being slidable in abutment with and internally along said other bore wall until said ring flange abuts the outer rim end portion of said other bore wall -to removably mount said marking unit Within the supporting compartment portion of said holding body; a closure cap of cup-shape having an inner bore portion of smaller diameter and an outer open-end bore portion of larger diameter defining an intermediate internal abutment shoulder therein, said outer bore portion being slidabl'e in abutment with and over and along the outer rim end portion of said other bore wall until said internal abutment shoulder abuts said ring ange of said closure cap.

5. An improved self-contained marking unit of the character shown and described which comprises, a marking cup having an open-end bore portion therein, a flexible U-shaped ring ange about said marking cup at its open end; said ring flange having a transversely-outwardly-projecting leg portion integrally connected to said marking cup, a second transversely-inwardly-projecting leg portion in a substantially parallel and spaced relationship with said first-mentioned leg portion, and an outer base portion integrally-ilexibly connecting said leg portions with each other; a marking pad positioned within the bore portion of said marking cup and projecting outwardly from its open end, said leg and base portions of said ring flange dening an internal locking groove to securely position said pad within said marking cup; a closure cap of cup-shape having an inner-smaller bore portion and an outer-larger and open end bore portion deiining an intermediate abutment shoulder, said abutment shoulder having a maximum outer diameter of the same dimension as said inner bore portion; said outer base portion of said marking cup having a smaller diameter than said outer larger bore portion of said closure cap to freely slide therein into abutment with said abutment shoulder, said base portion of said marking cup having an outer diameter only slightly larger than the diameter of ksaid inner-smaller bore portion of said closure cap to lex transversely-inwardly upon said abutment shoulder and move within and along said innersmaller bore portion of said closure cap and securely position said cap over the open end of said marking cup and over said marking pad to close off said pad.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 282,148 Armington July 31, 1883 655,091 Knauber July 31, 1900 1,098,459 Nordike June 2, 1914 1,297,784 Birnbaum Mar. 18, 1919 2,235,453 Kirmes Mar. 18, 1941 2,365,908 Runnels Dec. 26, 1944 2,377,117 Watkins May 29, 1945 

